Hyperstrike, Father Xmas, etc. If you're still around...

Hey guys.

I'm looking at completely replacing my computer in order to enjoy Champions Online and get more out of the end of COH. If you have a few minutes to help me out- This is a duplicate of a thread I posted on the CO forums:

So, my current dinosaur of a computer has gotten away with running COH... But it's literally impossible to even launch CO on this thing. I will spare you the horrific specs.

I'm ordering up a completely new computer next week.

I found something pretty cheap on Amazon that I'm seriously considering.

Beyond the whole no other game chatter response, you probably need to get a higher watt P/S as well.

It's probably that cheap because it's using integrated graphics.

Honestly, performance of these systems are going to be somewhat "meh".

What kind of budget are you playing with here? We might be able to suggest something only marginally more expensive with a slightly better performance profile.

Also, if you're buying a CyberPower system, I'd look at going directly to their site and working up a system in their configuration matrix. It'll help you dial in price and options you want more easily.

Clicking on the linked image above will take you off the City of Heroes site. However, the guides will be linked back here.

For all that is good and smells like cookies in this world, do not get a GT440. If you're stuck on getting a pre-built OEM/turn-key PC, get a 7750 card instead of the GT440 or even a HD6670. If you *have* to get either of those cards, make sure it's DDR5 not DDR3.

Here's a chart of a few common titles at various settings showing the vast performance difference with those two cards. A 7750 doesn't require a 6-pin PCI-Express power connection either, and is around the same price (even slightly cheaper some places) and totally blows it away.

http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/535?vs=610

Also - get this rig instead if you're going to just add in your own card. No sense in paying for the crappy card that comes with the machine if you don't need it and can put that money towards a better system.

http://www.amazon.com/CyberpowerPC-G...p_ob_title_def

Wow, thanks a bunch guys. I appreciate the fast responses.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hyperstrike What kind of budget are you playing with here? We might be able to suggest something only marginally more expensive with a slightly better performance profile.

Right now I'm looking at $890.00 max, including shipping, tax, Windows, monitor, keyboard and mouse.

Quote:

Also, if you're buying a CyberPower system, I'd look at going directly to their site and working up a system in their configuration matrix. It'll help you dial in price and options you want more easily.

A lot of why I decided to go for an assembled machine is that I really have no skill or previous knowledge in the field of building computers, aside from knowing how to swap out RAM and video cards (derp.) Honestly I wouldn't know where to begin- What's good, what's bad, etc. if I were to try to put something together myself.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Father Xmas That's a nice monitor. However whatever modern 3D game you choose to play on it, you won't be playing at native resolution with high game settings and a 30+fps frame rate with a GT 440.

Would the card that TheXor suggested be better suited for the monitor I mentioned?

Quote:

The price they are selling that for is reasonable. Any reason for Amazon over somewhere like NewEgg?. They have this i5-3450, 8GB, HD 6670 for $700, the cost of that Amazon rig plus replacement video card. That's a Intel Ivy Bridge quad core (which would whump the FX-4100) with a bit faster video card. The downside is the power supply is from an older era and would very likely require you to upgrade if you end up wanting to upgrade to a more powerful video card in the future, but I'm guessing the Amazon FX model has the same problem.

The reason I'm preferring Amazon is that they will offer free shipping and I have more past experience dealing with them than NewEgg (I buy tons of frivolous crap on Amazon and it always arrives in a timely fashion and in great condition. Plus, free shipping rules.)

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheXor Here's a chart of a few common titles at various settings showing the vast performance difference with those two cards. A 7750 doesn't require a 6-pin PCI-Express power connection either, and is around the same price (even slightly cheaper some places) and totally blows it away. http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/535?vs=610

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheXor Also - get this rig instead if you're going to just add in your own card. No sense in paying for the crappy card that comes with the machine if you don't need it and can put that money towards a better system. http://www.amazon.com/CyberpowerPC-G...p_ob_title_def

Wow, that card with that machine does look like a better combination. Saves me some cash too... Thanks!

(You are talking about this card, and it's compatible with the machine you linked, right?)

Even better since that chart compared an HD 7750 at 800MHz where the card you linked to from Amazon is clocked at 880MHz.

You have to understand that with some games, Metro 2033 for example, even a $500 video card in a PC with a top end Intel CPU won't get you 60fps at 1920x1080. Other games like GW2, an HD 7750 is borderline 30fps at 1920x1080 at max settings, mid 40s at a lower setting but the tests were done with a top end Intel CPU. Guild Wars 2: Your Graphics Card And CPU Performance Guide (Tom's Hardware)

I'm just trying to tone down your expectations. There's always going to be a trade off between resolution, frame rate and "pretty" and it'll be different with every game you play. Older games would likely need less compromise than newer games and there is always one game every few years (Obsidian, Crysis, Metro) which would give a dual video card, $3000 system fits so an $600 system wouldn't stand a chance without cranking down resolution and game settings.

A newer 500 watt PSU isn't all that low with the current crop of Intel CPUs and current gen of video cards. This build from Tom's Hardware using the i5-3570K and a GTX 670 only used 285 watts, measured at the wall socket, at stock clocks under CPU + GPU load. Now since they are using an 80 plus PSU we're talking the actual DC wattage of 230ish watts. If they weren't overclocking it they could easily get away with a 450 watt PSU instead of 600 watt and still have a comfortable amount power in reserve.

The HD 7750 is only a 55 watt card, doesn't even use supplemental power from a PCIe plug. And while from what I can tell, the older 500 watt PSU they using should have enough 12 volt power to handle the FX-4100 and HD 7750.

THB: What the heck are you doing?!? I love reading your CoH builds because they were good, but your choice in PCs is like a CoH character walking around with a gimp build with no enhancements.

CPU should be Intel. Forget AMD, their Bulldozer chip competes with their old Phenom II line and loses to those chips.

If you say "500W power supply" I just won't bother, who makes the unit matters quite a bit. You can still pick up quality PSUs from Seasonic for not too much money $80 and those units are well built and come with 5 year warranties. Sure you can save $20 on a Delta built unit with thin wires and cheap parts, but you will end up replacing the unit due to parts failing or making annoying noises. (Antec Earthwatts 380D that means you) You want to stick your shiny new $400 video card, $250 CPU etc into some cheap unit? Go right ahead.

Do your homework on this THB! Don't disappoint us. Take your time and find a good deal, don't rush into this and get burned for being impatient.

Well Newchem, some people buy what's on the lot. His budget is a hard $890 including shipping and tax and it includes a 22" 1080P monitor. So that's a really small budget for just the rig.

A hardware geek like us might be able to configure a better computer from what's available as choices at CyberPowerPC for the money but for someone who isn't waiting for the NDA to expire on the GTX 650 and 660 reviews in two days or has a bookmark tab of review sites and searchable benchmark tables, you buy what's offered that's within your budget.

THB: I really do like your builds in CoH.

http://www.cyberpowerpc.com/system/Mega_Special_III/

Here from cyberpower PC. Starts off with a Hardware Geek approved Intel 3570K.

You only need to do 2 things for me to give the thumbs up. Swap the Liquid cooling unit for a Cooler Master Hyper 212 evo. Then "upgrade" the PSU to a Corsair 650TXV2 With that total cost is $880. It comes with an AMD 7750 video card. Don't worry, just sell it on fleabay and buy something better.